Chapter 98
Noetic Prayer and the Technique of the Jesus Prayer
98.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
98.3.1 I’m sending you offprints of the article that appeared in Dushepoleznoe Chtenie. Give Stepan Onisimovich 5 or 10—for distribution... and distribute them yourselves... to whomever you know. I also wrote more extensively about the same subject in the Church Herald. If only it would be published! How has noetic prayer existed since the ninth century? Noetic prayer has existed from time immemorial. There is no other prayer than noetic prayer. Our conversation was not about noetic prayer, but about the technique of the Jesus Prayer—which is wrongly called noetic prayer.[1] – When the intellect converses with God in the heart, that’s noetic prayer! But you shouldn’t mix any technique into this work. And you must leave this article aside completely.[2] Don’t argue about it or bring it up.
98.4.1 The Philokalia is moving very slowly... And this ought to shame Saint Petersburg. For me, though, it’s all the same. – It’s hot here, and I’m being lazy. – Still, I’ve written something from Psalm 119 for conversation, and now I’m working bit by bit on Romans.
98.5.1 The Citizen is being sent. Yes, he’s a good man. God grant him health... If only he’d dash off something – about the Bible... Or you could extract whatever comes to mind from the article in Edifying Reading and pass it on to him. – He mentioned something about that. But nothing came of it. He must speak in an Orthodox way.
98.6.1 About the schismatics – or concessions to them! Perhaps it’s for the best. There will be someone through whom to work on them. We must allow them to establish their own seminary and academy; a few drops will come out of these institutions – and they’ll turn everything upside down... I mean the schismatic world. The schism is sustained by sheer ignorance. Once the conditions of salvation become clear, it will also become clear that all the schismatic dogmas are not dogmas at all, but rubbish. And the schism will end. It is wrong to count the Molokans and Shundists among the schismatics.[3] They are our Protestants!
98.7.1 The difficulties you encounter serve as proof that your work is sound and a thorn in the enemy’s side.[4] He even lifts up mountains of obstacles. Be strong and courageous!
98.8.1 Be well and cheerful! But why didn’t you tell me anything about the Greek Bible—the Alexandrian edition, published here by the Lazarides—in the twenties! Where can one get it? Of course! It was, I believe, in the Synodal bookshops. Look into it.
98.9.1 May the Lord bless you with His all-merciful blessing!
98.10.1 Your intercessor, Bishop Theophan.
98.11.1